CPC A61F 2/89 (2013.01) [A61F 2/90 (2013.01); A61F 2/915 (2013.01); A61F 2002/075 (2013.01); A61F 2/2442 (2013.01); A61F 2002/825 (2013.01); A61F 2002/91558 (2013.01); A61F 2002/91566 (2013.01); A61F 2002/91575 (2013.01); A61F 2002/91591 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0004 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0014 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0076 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0033 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0091 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0006 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0008 (2013.01); A61F 2230/001 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0069 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0031 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0036 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0048 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0067 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0071 (2013.01)] | 28 Claims |
1. An endoluminal prosthesis comprising:
a scaffold having a tubular body comprising a plurality of circumferential rings patterned from a non-degradable material, the scaffold being configured to expand from a crimped configuration to an expanded configuration;
wherein at least some of the plurality of circumferential rings comprise struts joined by crowns, wherein at least some of the plurality of circumferential rings are axially joined to adjacent circumferential rings;
wherein at least some of the plurality of circumferential rings have at least two separation regions, the separation regions being a pre-formed break or gap in a strut, wherein the separation regions are immobilized during expansion but configured to move apart after expansion in a physiologic environment to form discontinuities in the plurality of circumferential rings; and
wherein the scaffold is configured to circumferentially separate into two to five separate axially linked segments extending from one end of the scaffold to the other end of the scaffold after all discontinuities are formed, the segments having at least some intact axial links between adjacent circumferential rings in each segment.
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